Mayes Co., OK - Obits: Charles E. Francis
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FRANCIS -- Charles E. Francis, 85, retired Watchmaker and American Airlines
employee, died Saturday, December 2, 2006. Charles was born to Harry Irwin,
Sr. And Rose Wilma Francis, near the gravel pits around Salina, OK, in a tent
on September 24, 1921.
He was a Veteran of the World War II, having served in both the European and
the North African Theatres. He earned an Associate degree in Horology from
Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, in 1947, which launched
his lifelong career as a watchmaker in Tulsa, ultimately opening The Jewel Box
at 38th and South Peoria, which he operated for several years in the 1950's.
In the early 1960's, he owned and operated a watch repair store in the lobby
of the Enterprise building at 6th and Boston and then subsequently maintained
a watch repair bench in Betty's Fine Jewels, located in the corner venue of
the same building. In 1966, he went to work for American Airlines at a time
when the airline was hiring watchmakers for flight instrument specialists. He
retired from American Airlines in 1984. Even during his tenure at A.A. And
then in the years following his retirement, he maintained a watch-making bench
at home, working on both watches and clocks. His greatest joy was to repair
antique clocks and older watches, at times fashioning out-of-production parts
with a metal lathe-he was truly a Master Craftsman.
On March 21, 1947, he married, Ada Mae Crawford at Second Presbyterian Church
in Tulsa. They were married 58 years, until Ada Mae's death, in January of
this year. Both Charles and Ada Mae were longtime members of Southminster
Presbyterian Church, where Charles was a Deacon and an Usher. He was also a 32
Degree Mason and past-Master of the former Brookside Lodge.
Charles was preceded in death by: his wife, Ada Mae; 4 sisters, Marcet,
Imogene, Daphne, and Bobbie; 4 brothers, Harry, Jr., Spike, Jack and G. W.
He is survived by: a daughter, Julia A. Francis of Oklahoma City; his son,
Jeffrey C. Francis and his wife, Martha, their children, his grandchildren,
Morgan H. Francis and his wife, Bethany, Megan E. Francis, and Patrick A.
Sloan and his wife, Jennifer and their child, a great-grandchild, Nathan.
Service will be held 10 a.m., Wednesday, December 6, at Ninde Woodland Chapel,
with burial following at Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be made to
AutumnBridge Hospice, Oklahoma City, OK. Services are under the direction of
Ninde Funeral Directors.
Published in the Tulsa World from 12/5/2006 - 12/6/2006.